Compare towns
Worcester vs Shelburne vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Worcester | Shelburne | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
7,969Highest |
594Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
— | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.